Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with Passions, J.E.R. or NBC and the characters in this story do not belong to me.
I know that the FBI training is supposed to last for 5 weeks but in my story it lasts for 6 months- I am making use of my ‘poetic license’ =) Happy Reading!
Chapter 1:
Luis put down his briefcase and run his fingers through his hair as he waited at the busy news kiosk. His eyes scanned the large terminal and his ears took in all of the sounds of the hustle and bustle of the airport. He had just now returned to Boston from six months of intensive training at the FBI training facility in Virginia. His gaze continued to sweep his surroundings until it fell onto a magazine in the rack, he reached down and picked it up. “America’s Princess: Home at Last?” Luis was stunned to see Sheridan Crane staring back at him, a Sheridan Crane very different from the one he remembered.
She was dressed in a red business suit, her hands on her hips and a smug, I-know-something-you-don’t-know, grin on her face. Luis picked his jaw up off the floor and moved himself forward in the line; he paid for his newspaper and the magazine and went to find his ride home.
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
Sheridan handed her bag to Charles and stepped into the waiting limo. She was home from Paris; she had been there for the last six months. Julian had had a heart attack from all of the stress he was under and he was now unfit to run the ‘family business’, her father had ordered her home to pick up the slack. She looked out the window and saw a familiar man walk out of the airport, Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald. Sheridan sighed and remembered how they had parted
<<
Sheridan went to the youth centre and saw the roses sitting on the bench.
“I would love to go out with you tonight” she read from the card
“Yes, I will go out with you tonight” she replied, smiling happily. She stood up and turned around,
“Hank…???” Sheridan asked on complete shock. ‘Oh no, not again! I can’t go out with Hank after that wonderful first date I had with Luis’. She cringed at the thought of having to go out with Hank.
“Hey buddy!” Hank said looking over her shoulder he put his arm around her shoulder and continued, “What are you looking so happy about?”
Luis and Sheridan shared a secret look and she smiled lightly.
Luis just grinned and so Hank continued,
“Me and Sheridan are going out tonight so can she leave early?”
Sheridan turned to look at him and raised her eyebrows at his presumptuousness. She turned back to look at Luis and saw a flash of hurt in his eyes, but he covered well.
“Sure, whatever you want man.” His good mood had lessened slightly but decided to continue with his question.
Luis avoided Sheridan’s gaze and turned his full attention to Hank, “Hank I have to talk to you about something, it is really important.”
“Sure buddy, what is it?”
Sheridan excused herself so that they could talk in private.
The next time she saw Luis was hours later, in his office. She began to explain what had happened about the date with Hank but he interrupted.
“Sheridan, I am going away,” Luis slipped it in quickly and quietly, he wasn’t sure how she would react, especially after their fantastic date the night before
<<
He had been sent to Virginia by her family, a bribe to stay away from her, she remembered with disgust. He pretended that the bribe was anonymous and she hadn’t questioned it’s source but shortly after he had told her, Julian had informed her that he was bound by secrecy, to tell no one where the offer had come from. At first Sheridan had found it hard to believe that Luis would accept anything from her family, but he was going and he was smart enough to figure out who would have sent the offer in, at least she thought so.
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
Luis saw a black, stretch limo pull away from the curb as he walked out of the terminal. ‘Crane 1’ it said on the numberplate. He thought back to how things had ended with Sheridan, it wasn’t friendly and relaxed like their dinner was, but more like it used to be. Sheridan had put that wall back up and was cold and distant when they had said good bye, no hug, no kiss and no casual promise to ‘keep in touch’. Luis had been disappointed but he had more important things to think about…at the time. Now that he was back in Harmony for good, it would be hard to keep Sheridan out of his thoughts, and he didn’t really want to.
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
Sheridan walked into her cottage and flopped onto the couch. She was putting off having to go and see Julian. She felt bad for her brother but he was still the same horrible person that she had known her whole life, heart attack or no heart attack. There was a light knock on the door and Ethan walked in.
“Sheridan!” He exclaimed and ran up to wrap her in a hug
“Oh Ethan, I have missed you so much! Why didn’t you come and visit me? What kind of nephew are you?” She playfully teased him, she knew that he was busy planning the wedding because Gwen was so occupied with work.
“Well you know you could have given me a little more time to get used to the idea that you would be going away,” he said avoiding her question. “All I knew was that Grandfather Alistair had asked you to become CEO of Crane Global in Europe. Needless to say I was a little surprised. Sheridan why on earth did you say yes?” Ethan was confused, Sheridan had never showed interest in the Crane family business and now she was a more important part of the company than Ethan or Julian.
“Ethan, I was so sick of just living in this cottage, so sick of people thinking that I was just a Crane woman- good for nothing except spending the money that our family made.” Sheridan knew that Ethan would think it was a lame excuse because she had never cared before what people thought of her, but how could she tell him that she didn’t want to live in this town without Luis, even if he did use her. Not to mention the fact that she would be stuck with Hank for six months!
“Fair enough Sheridan,” Ethan said understandingly, “At least you are home to stay now, although if I didn’t know any better, I would have thought that your leaving had something to do with Luis…I mean, you only left two days after he did!”
Sheridan stared at him wide eyed, “Umm...no of course not Ethan, I feel nothing for Luis, it was just coincidence, besides you know how he used me, just to get his training.” Sheridan finished bitterly.
“That is what you said. Anyway we have to go to the Book Café, Gwen is meeting us there.” Ethan pulled her up and dragged her out of the cottage.
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
Luis and Hank pulled into the driveway of the Lopez-Fitzgerald home.
“How does it feel to be back buddy?” Hank and Luis steeped out of the car and started around to the back door.
“Good man, it feel real good!” Luis ran his hand through his hair and approached his mother in the kitchen from behind.
“Luis!” Pilar exclaimed and wrapped him in a big hug.
“Mama, I have missed you!”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming home today? I knew you were coming sometime this week but I wanted to pick you up from the airport.” Pilar questioned him and waited expectantly.
“I wanted it to be a surprise, where are Theresa and Miguel?” He looked around the room and soaked up the familiarity of the house he had spent his whole life in, how he had missed his family.
“I saw them earlier and they said they were going to the Book Café this afternoon, so they should be there.” Hank supplied them with the information.
“Then lets go, Mama,” Luis held open the door, “After you.”
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
Sheridan and Ethan walked in to the Book Café and saw Gwen talking to Theresa and her younger brother, Miguel.
“Maybe not the Lopez-Fitzgerald brother you wanted to see hey Sheridan?” Ethan teased quietly with a cheeky grin on his face.
“Don’t even say it Ethan, what Luis and I could have had was over before it started, so drop it!” Sheridan replied coldly, avoiding Ethan’s amused gaze. He knew her too well.
They made their way over to Gwen, Theresa and Miguel.
“Sheridan! I am so glad that you are back! You are in time to help me with the wedding,” Gwen stood up and gave her and light hug.
“From what I have heard you won’t need any help, Ethan said that Theresa has been quite the wedding planner for you both.” Sheridan turned to Theresa and noticed her slight blush.
“It is good to see you Theresa, you too Miguel. I hope you are both doing well?” Sheridan offered her greeting.
“We are both well, thankyou Sheridan.” Miguel replied for the both of them, Theresa was still revelling in the praise from Ethan that Sheridan had conveyed.
“I am going to go and get us all some coffee, why don’t you and Aunt Sheridan go and find somewhere to sit down Gwen,” Ethan gave her a light kiss and moved off to place their order. Sheridan looked at Theresa and noticed her look down when Gwen and Ethan kissed, maybe there was more there than met the eye.
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
Luis led Hank and his mother into the Café and spotted Miguel and Theresa immediately. Both looked up to see who had come in the door.
“Luis!” they both yelled in unison and ran up to hug him.
Sheridan and Gwen noticed the commotion from the other side of the room and looked over. Sheridan’s breath caught in her throat and absorbed the sight of Luis and his family. She knew that she would have to see him again soon but what she did not count on was seeing him like this, with his family. The way that Luis acted with his brother and sister had always warmed Sheridan’s heart and it made it even harder for her to remember to be angry with him for taking advantage of her.
Luis looked up and his eyes caught Sheridan’s. He offered a small smile but was faced with those ice blue eyes that no longer held the warmth that he had seen only seconds before. Luis didn’t know what had happened between them but he didn’t want to think about it now, he was happy, he had his family and a great new job, life was good. Even without Sheridan.
Ethan returned from getting their drinks and had noticed the entrance of Luis, Pilar and Hank. He walked behind Sheridan’s chair and squeezed her shoulder in a gesture of support, he knew that she would not forgive him soon. Ethan had been there to pick up the pieces when Sheridan had found out that Luis was using her, she was crushed. She had been sure that Luis was the man for her, the one who would love her for her and not for the Crane money or power. She had been wrong, he had accepted Julian’s offer even when he had known it was a bribe to take him away from Sheridan and on top of that, he had not even had the courage to admit to Sheridan what had been going on. Ethan thought him a coward and would never forgive Luis for hurting his aunt.
“So what is going to happen now Luis?” Miguel asked. The Lopez-Fitzgerald’s and Hank were now seated around a small table. “Well, I continue to work for the Harmony PD…only now as a Detective instead of an officer.” Luis’ grin was infectious and the entire party was smiling.
“Will you still be living with us Luis?” Theresa asked the question that had been on everyone’s mind.
“For a while longer, yes, but I am not sure what will happen. You guys will always be my first priority, you know that.” Luis reassured his family, “Tell me though, what have I missed while I was gone?”
Theresa and Miguel rambled off some stories about Valentines, a ski trip and summer break, but Luis wasn’t listening. His gaze was fixed on the beautiful blonde woman across the room who was laughing with her nephew and his fiance. He used to with that he was the one who could make her laugh like that.
“…And you know that Sheridan moved back to Paris?” Theresa was oblivious to the fact the Luis wasn’t paying any attention to her. That is until she mentioned Sheridan.
“Uh… yeah, I think I heard something about it.” Luis tried to sound indifferent. Theresa continued, “She is back you know,” she seemed to not notice that the conversation could make all of them a little uncomfortable.
“Yeah, I saw her at the airport.” Luis stared into his cup and avoided Hank’s jealous gaze.
“She never mentioned it when we talked to her a few minutes ago,” Theresa thought out loud, completely missing the warning looks both Miguel and Pilar were throwing her way.
“Sheridan is here?” Hank joined the conversation but didn’t wait for an answer; “I am going to say hello.”
He walked across the room and left the Lopez-Fitzgerald family to their coffee.
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
Sheridan, Ethan and Gwen were having a great time catching up. They were telling her all about the wedding plans and she was filling them in on how she had assumed the position of CEO of Crane Global.
“Sheridan, don’t look now but Hank Bennett is making his way over here.” Gwen leaned and whispered to her, grinning slightly as Sheridan cringed.
“Sheridan! How’s my best girl going? Couldn’t stay away from Harmony and me too long after all hey?” Hank laughed at his own comment, oblivious to the strained chuckles that the other three were emitting.
“How have you been Hank?” Sheridan asked politely as Hank took a seat.
“Well I am much better now that you are back,” he grinned. Sheridan gave him an awkward smile and turned to Gwen and Ethan as if to ask for help.
“Hank I saw Chief Bennett earlier and he asked me if I had seen you, he told me to tell you that he was looking for you and could you find him as soon as possible,” Ethan said formally and received a grateful smile from Sheridan.
“Well I guess I have to go then,” Hank stood up from the table.
“It was good to see you again Hank,” Sheridan smiled up at him.v
“Yeah, well we can go out to dinner this week and catch up, ok?” Hank asked her hopefully
“We’ll see Hank, I will be very busy with Crane Industries, but we’ll see.”
Hank said his good byes and left the Book Café.
“Ethan! I can’t believe you lied to Hank!” Gwen exclaimed and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Who said I lied, I did see Chief Bennett and he did ask me to tell Hank those things, I may have made it sound more urgent than it was…but who am I to know?” Ethan replied innocently, encouraging laughter from the other two.
“Thankyou any way, Hank can be a bit over bearing sometimes.” Sheridan hugged her nephew, “Now I am going back to my cottage to get some sleep before I have to deal with Julian tomorrow.”
Sheridan said goodbye to Gwen and Ethan and made her way to the door.
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
Luis and his family were busy catching up when he saw Sheridan stand up to leave the Book Café. He watched as she exchanged hugs with Ethan and Gwen and start towards the door.
“Sheridan,” Pilar stood up and turned to her.
“Hello Pilar, I have missed you so much!” Sheridan gave her a hug.
“Were you going to leave with out saying hello?” Pilar asked delicately
“Well, I…umm…I didn’t want to interrupt, I know that Luis only returned home today.” Sheridan explained and tried to mention Luis without emotion.
“Yes, but you are always welcome Sheridan, you know that.” Pilar assured her, “I will talk to you tomorrow at the mansion?”
“Yes, I have to go and see Julian tomorrow,” Pilar could see Sheridan’s apprehension
“I didn’t think you would have seen him yet,” Pilar said understandingly
“Tell me Pilar, how is he?” Sheridan asked cautiously. Pilar knew that she was wondering how much of Julian had changed after the accident.
“He is not well Sheridan, he is still the same in character but you can see that he does not have the strength of will any more, not like he used to.” Sheridan nodded understandingly
“Thankyou Pilar I will see you tomorrow.” Sheridan gave her one last hug and left.
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
Sheridan slowly opened her eyes and looked at the clock. 9:00am. Pilar would be at work by now but she would leave it a while longer before she went to visit Julian. She thought about the night before. Ethan and Gwen seemed so happy, she was glad that they had worked everything out and were going to be married soon. And as much as she tried to avoid it, she thought about him. Luis. The man that she had thought would be strong enough to stand up to her family. The man that she had thought would pass the test. The man that she had hoped to spend the rest of her life with.
Sheridan realised that she was crying and mentally berated her self. “He used you Sheridan, he pretended to be interested in you and then ditched you when your family offered him a bribe.” She shook the thoughts from her head and went to shower and change before going to see Julian and Pilar at the mansion.
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
Pilar looked towards the door and saw Sheridan walk in. She noticed the sad look on her face and wondered what was wrong, Pilar had always known that Sheridan put on the facade of a strong woman but she was vulnerable and…lonely.
“Sheridan, is everything ok.” Pilar asked, concerned.
She saw her ‘brave smile’, “Of course, everything is fine Pilar.”
Sheridan walked past her and into the family room to pour herself a glass of water. “How is your family Pilar? I didn’t get much of a chance to talk to Miguel and Theresa yesterday, is everything well?”
“Yes, everything is well Sheridan, thankyou for your concern. Miguel and Theresa are happy, especially now that Luis is home.” Pilar noticed the hurt flash through Sheridan’s eyes as she mentioned Luis’ name.
“That is good to hear, you must be relieved to have him home?” Sheridan asked politely.
“Yes, I am. If you don’t mind me asking, what happened between you? I asked Luis but he doesn’t answer me.”
“Umm…well,” Sheridan began nervously, how do you tell a woman that you consider to be you second mother that her son used you? How do you tell her that without hurting her, because the last thing she wanted to do was hurt Pilar.
“I am sorry Sheridan, it is none of my business, I shouldn’t have pried, forgive me.” Pilar apologised.
“No Pilar, don’t apologise. You know what I think I will go for a walk and talk to Julian later this afternoon.” Sheridan squeezed Pilar’s hand and walked out the same door she had come through only moments before.
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
Luis sat in his office at the Youth Centre. Hank had keep a good handle on the place but the paper work had begun to pile up and the place needed some work. He looked over to a bulletin board on the wall and saw some photos, pictures of the kids playing basketball, at dances and just hanging out. And one of him and Sheridan doing the Tango. Luis wondered what had changed between him and Sheridan, he thought back to the day after their date, when he had told Hank and Sheridan that he was leaving.
<<
And it was true. He didn’t know who had sent in the grant, still to this day he had no idea. He pushed some papers into the trash in an attempt to straighten out the mess on his desk, he wished it was so easy to straighten out the messes in his life. Only one mess actually. Sheridan Crane. He saw the magazine that he had bought at the Airport only yesterday and stared at the familiar woman on the cover, only now he wondered how much she had changed since becoming one of the most powerful business people in the world.
To tell the truth Luis had no idea that Sheridan was cut out for running a gigantic company like Crane Global, he was surprised to find out that he had once again underestimated the mysterious woman that consumed his every thought. He opened the magazine and was assaulted by a large, double page article headed “Who said smart didn’t mean sexy?” and another picture of Sheridan, this time in and large leather office chair with her ankles crossed and resting on a huge desk.
Luis skimmed through the article and discovered that Sheridan had studied International Commerce and Law at one of the most prestigious universities in Paris. His mouth dropped open as he read how she had been at the top of her class all the way through college. The woman never ceased to amaze him. He sighed and tossed the magazine away, they were right, smart was sexy. Sheridan Crane was too damn sexy for her own good, and it didn’t help Luis that she wouldn’t even talk to him. He looked at his watch and realised that it was time to go and collect his mother from the Crane mansion.
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
Sheridan had walked around the wharf for hours and she realised it was getting late and she needed to get back to the mansion to see Julian.
She walked up the stairs to his bedroom and paused outside the door. He had the heart attack a week ago and she had been warned by a number of people that he was weak. Despite the fact that Julian had never been the model brother, he was the only one she had and she still loved him. She took a deep breath and pushed open the door.
She gasped as she took in the site of the frail, shadow of a man that was once Julian Crane. He seemed so helpless to her. She walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, he awoke at the movement.
“Sheridan, I wondered if you would come” Julian half groaned
“Hello Julian,” she replied lightly
“So I see that our Father has sent you to pick up the slack and take over my duties at Crane Industries, like you could handle it.” Julian said snidely.
“Now there is the Julian I know and love,” She replied sarcastically and stood up from the bed.
“I don’t want your pity!” He said with every amount of disgust and disdain for her and the situation he was in that he could conjure up. Sheridan was taken aback at his tone but realised that he was the same proud and stubborn man as always, “Good because I am not offering it. I came to see you because I was concerned about you, whether you like it or not we are family. Besides, I need to talk to you about some things concerning the Industries.”
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
Luis parked his car at the servant’s entrance and waited for his mother to come out. He hated that his mother worked for the Cranes, but now that he was Detective, he would make enough money for her to give up her job. Luis had always been wary of the Cranes, at one time he thought that Sheridan was different from them but he had learned better.
<<
He had told her in his office the day after their date. “Sheridan I am going away.” When he explained that there had been an anonymous donation made to the Harmony PD that was to be used to send him to Virginia she was so happy for him. She had hugged him and congratulated him. But that didn’t last for long, the day before he was to leave, he went to visit her at her cottage.
“Sheridan, I came to say goodbye.” Luis leaned on the doorframe and gave her a huge smile.
“Well goodbye then Luis, I hope you will be very happy in Virginia,” she replied coldly, her eyes betraying no emotion.
“Is something wrong Sheridan? You are acting strange.” Luis was confused with her behaviour, he thought that she was happy for him.
“No I am fine Luis, are you sure that there isn’t something that you need to confess to me before you go?” Sheridan’s demeanour remained distant but calm, Luis was oblivious to the fact that she wanted him to admit to the source of the donation.
“Umm…Ya lost me Sheridan, I don’t know what you are talking about,” Luis half laughed at the absurdity of the question, he didn’t have a clue what she was referring to.
“You know I remember you once said that you would always be honest with me, now I am glad that I have found out what kind of man you really are. Goodbye Luis.” She shut the door in his face and they never spoke again.
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
Sheridan closed Julian’s door behind her and leaned against the wall. She was in shock. To her, Julian was a powerful man, stubborn, strong-willed, bossy and…well Julian. But the man that was lying in that bed was not the brother that she knew. Despite his attempts to appear to be the eternal snob that Julian was, she saw through it, he was so different. A tear rolled down Sheridan’s cheek and she took a deep breath, why was she so upset for a man that did everything in his power to make her life miserable? She walked down the back staircase and out the servant’s exit, tears streaming down her face. She sat down on a stone bench near the back door and with her head in her hands, she cried.
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
Luis opened the door of his car and leaned against the hood. He turned his attention to the distraught blonde woman that walked out of the door. “That’s Sheridan.” Luis exclaimed, he hated to see anyone cry but it was even worse when it was Sheridan because it reminded him that she wasn’t the snobby, hard-ass Crane that he pretended she was.
“Sheridan,” he approached her cautiously and sat down beside her. She looked up at him with the widest, saddest blue eyes he had ever seen
“Luis, what are you doing here?” she enquired and wiped her eyes in an attempt to regain her composure.
“I am here to pick up Mama, tell me what is wrong, maybe I can help.”
“You would be ecstatic if I told you what was wrong, Luis.” Sheridan said in a bitter voice.
“Try me,” he gently encouraged her.
“It is Julian,” Sheridan began and noticed him tense up beside her.
“What about Julian, what could have happened to make you so upset?” Luis tried to calm himself down.
“You won’t give a damn Luis, just leave me be.”
“Sheridan, I am not going to leave you like this, at least let me walk you back to your cottage, if you wont tell me what is wrong.” She was right, he didn’t really care what was wrong with Julian, although he was worried about her.
“I will tell you Luis, you will find out soon enough anyway.” She stood up and turned her back to him.
“The reason I am upset is the same reason that I am back in Harmony.” Sheridan took a deep breath and tried to calm herself, she felt Luis’ hand on her shoulder and continued, “Julian had a heart attack, I have to take over Crane Industries.”
“What? How…when did this happen? Why doesn’t anyone know?” Luis was flabbergasted, this was the last thing that he had expected to hear.
“It happened about a week ago. I once told you that things have a way of getting hushed up in my family, well this is one of those things.”
“How is he?” Luis asked sincerely
“Like you give a damn Luis, you hate Julian.” She turned to face him.
“I would never wish him harm though Sheridan, you know me better than that.”
“You know Luis I thought I did know you but I was wrong, you are just like every other man I have ever known.” She shook her head and tears welled up in her eyes again.
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
FROM HERE ON ALL WRITING IN ITALICS IS IN FRENCH. I DID THIS BECAUSE I DON’T KNOW FRENCH AND BESIDES IT IS PROBABLY EASIER TO FOLLOW LIKE THIS.
“Bonjour Sheridan.” A tall, handsome man with a thick French accent approached them. Sheridan’s eyes grew wide and a smile graced her face.
“Michel! I thought that you couldn’t come?” She broke away from Luis’ grasp and ran into Michel’s arms.
“Well I decided you were much more important than business and here I am!”
“I missed you so much, I am glad that you are here.” She smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
“Ahem!” Luis interrupted. His eyes wide and confused.
Sheridan blushed and apologised, she realised that they had been talking in French and Luis had no idea what was going on.
“Luis,” Sheridan continued, now speaking in English, “This is my friend Michel, from Paris.”
Luis took a step forward and offered his hand to Michel
“It is nice to meet you,” Luis greeted him politely
“Bonjour,” Michel accepted his hand and turned to Sheridan, “Sheri? Is this the man that has stolen your heart?” Michel asked in French and laughed at the shocked expression on her face.
“Michel, Please! Forget about that! He may have hurt me but he does not have my heart!” Sheridan lied to him in a whispered voice, although she knew that Luis had no idea what she was saying.
Luis watched the exchange in wonder. He knew that Sheridan could speak French but he had never heard it before, he wondered what the man had said to shock her in such a way. Who was he anyway?
“Sheridan, I have to go, my mother will be coming out soon. It was nice to meet you Michel.” Luis said goodbye and went to meet his mother.
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
Sheridan’s Cottage
“So, the truth now…what are you doing here?” Sheridan asked sceptically but in a teasing voice.
“I am here to look after you!” Michel laughed at the look on her face, he loved to tease her and she always rose to the occasion.
“I am just joking, I thought you might need my help. Besides what is a CEO without her right-hand-man?” Michel asked and sat down on the couch.
Sheridan rolled her eyes, “You are hardly my right-hand-man,” she teased him and laughed at the hurt look on his face.
Michel had been assigned to protect her in Paris after a stalking incident, he had since been relieved of his duties but he stuck around. At the beginning of his assignment, Sheridan had fought it, and him, all she could. She was an independent woman and convinced that she could look after herself but they had quickly become the best of friends and now they spent most of their time together anyway.
Sheridan looked at the familiar man sitting on the other couch, Michel was a young man, about 26 with sandy blonde hair and green eyes.
He was a handsome man and had a very rich family, the kind of man that her Father wanted her to marry. When they had first met, Sheridan was surprised to find out that he was so wealthy but was not in business like most other rich bachelors. He had explained that it was the excitement of it all that made him do what he did, it was either this or living off a trust fund and Sheridan had quickly agreed, that did not turn out to be as much fun as it sounded.
“So Sheri, who is this Luis character?” Michel asked in English, accompanied by a thick French accent. He wiggled his eyebrows at her and gave her a huge smile.
“You don’t give up do you Michel?” Sheridan laughed at his antics and then explained to him the entire ‘Sheridan-Luis’ story. He knew that someone ‘back home’ had broken her heart, but she was good at covering her thoughts and feelings and they had never really spoken about it before.
“So that is it,” Sheridan ended her story, “He took advantage of me and we haven’t spoken since.”
“Are you sure that that is all there is to it? No competition for me?” Michel pretended to be serious but burst out laughing. Sheridan joined him, Michel was a permanent bachelor and they were best friends, that was all.
<*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*> <*>
To Be Continued…